Wednesday, December 14, 2016

How To Make Homemade Gesso

Painting is an enjoyable hobby whether you do it for show or personal reasons. However, the materials required to paint can become expensive, especially gesso. Gesso is used to prepare surfaces for painting, including canvases. It's considered a primer that helps to smooth out your work surface and ensure that the paint doesn't soak into your canvas. Likewise, it can be used as a glue for collages and creating thicker canvases from cardboard, etc.



The Gesso Recipe

The gesso recipe featured can be used for both acrylic and oil paints, as well as any other paint. This gesso recipe makes approximately two quarts, which can be stored for up to six weeks if not needed immediately.

The homemade gesso recipe starts with a plaster mix. You'll need one cup of hot water, one cup of glue (white or PVA), and one cup of plaster powder or Plaster of Paris.

You will also require three cups of acrylic or oil paint for this gesso recipe. White is usually the most common color, but you can choose any that will complement your work. You'll also need a container to hold the gesso recipe, a cup that can be discarded, and something with which to mix the concoction. You may also want a dust mask for safety reasons.

Get all of your ingredients together for the gesso recipe and put on your dust mask. Place the hot water in your container (that can hold at least three quarts). Then, you can add the plaster (but do not add the water to the plaster because it could blow up in the face). Next, measure out and add the glue, stirring to combine.

Once the gesso recipe is mixed, you can add the white paint and mix once more.

The Results

While this homemade gesso recipe may not be an exact match to a commercial gesso recipe, it should produce similar results. Likewise, you may only require one coat with this gesso recipe, though you can add as many layers as necessary.

After applying the gesso recipe, you will wait until it dries. Then, you can sand down the dried gesso recipe, wipe it off and apply more of the gesso recipe until the canvas looks right. However, it's important to remember to let the gesso dry on the canvas before sanding and priming again. You will finish up with a slightly chalky, ready-to-paint canvas. 

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